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Obamacare critics' big complaint: Contraceptives

Critics of President Obama's health care plan have many complaints, but one stands out: Contraceptive policy. Three years after Congress approved President Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA), contraceptive

Obamacare critics' big complaint: Contraceptives

Three years on, President Obama's health care law still generates intense debate -- especially over contraceptive policy.

The Sunlight Foundation reports that more than 147,000 individuals and organizations have submitted formal public comments on the regulation giving women access to free contraceptive and other preventive services under the health care law. Most of the comments are critical of the provision.

"The Catholic Church has led the charge, urging parishioners to write with messages such as 'pregnancy is not a disease, and drugs and surgeries to prevent it are not basic health care that the government should require all Americans to purchase,'" Sunlight says.

Saturday marked the third anniversary of Obama's signing of the health care law.

"Women's groups and liberal organizations have also organized over the issue, which is also reflected in comments seen in the dockets. For example, the National Organization for Women sent out this alert in 2011, giving activists suggested language such as 'birth control is basic health care for all women, and the federal government should not permit a solitary religious viewpoint to override good public health policy.'

"Obama has been working to reach a compromise that would pass muster with the Catholic community and other religious groups that protest the rule, without success.

"In February, Catholic bishops said they opposed his most recent attempt, which would exempt churches, other religious organizations and some religiously affiliated hospitals, universities and social service agencies from paying directly for the contraceptive coverage. Instead, health insurance companies would pay for the coverage.

"So far federal courts have differed over the legality of the contraceptive provision, and observers expect that the issue will come to the Supreme Court."